Discover fun and educational events happening this weekend in Western Mass, along with announcements, upcoming events, links, resources and the HFVS podcast.

SUGGEST AN EVENT

If you have a family friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, post your event on our “Suggest An Event” page. The events below are “suggested.” Please take the time to confirm that these events are happening, along with time, place, age appropriateness and costs before attending.

Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 2nd & 3rd: 49th Annual Festival of the Hills. 10K road race, arts and crafts exhibits, live music, activities for kids, a parade, log-splitting and skillet-tossing contests, and food and wares from local vendors. All proceeds from the Festival go to support scholarships for local high school students. www.festivalofthehills.com 369-4392 Conway, MA

Warm welcome to Hilltown Families newest sponsor, The Top Stop. A locally owned, independent toy store on Pleasant Street in Northampton, MA. Grand opening this weekend! Stop by and thank them for sponsoring Hilltown Families!

GRAND OPENING: The Top Stop will be celebrating their Grand Opening this weekend, Saturday, September 25th & Sunday, September 26th. Located at 271 Pleasant Street in Northampton,The Toy Stop offers creative, eco-friendly toys and games that inspire play, laughter and learning. All are invited to stop in for giveaways and a free gift with every purchase all weekend long. – The Toy Stop. Laugh. Play. Learn. (413) 727-8821 http://www.thetoystoplaughplaylearn.com

FIELD TRIP: This weekend is the Working Waterfront Festival. Pack up the car and take a road trip to New Bedford, MA, America’s largest commercial fishing port, to learn about the men and women who harvest the North Atlantic. Walk the decks of a scalloper, dine on fresh seafood, mend a fishing net and watch a Coast Guard rescue demonstration. Experience the workings of the industry which brings seafood from the ocean to your plate. www.workingwaterfrontfestival.org

Deadline to enter to win: October 6th.

PARENTING CLASS: The Family Resource Center in North Adams presents, How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, a free 6 week parenting series for parents. Learn simple effective communication techniques that really work – Cope with your child’s negative feelings. Express your anger without being hurtful. Gain your child’s cooperation. Set limits and maintain goodwill. Use alternatives to punishment. Resolve family conflicts peacefully. – This 6-week class is for families with a child age 8 or under starting Monday, September 27th for six Monday nights from 5:30 to 7:00pm at the Haskins Community Center. Includes free class, light snack, transportation (if needed) and child care. Call 413-664-4821 to register. Space is limited.

HILLTOWN BUSINESS DIRECTORY: The annual Hilltown Business Directory, published both in print and online by the Hilltown Community Development Corporation (HCDC), a community non-profit in Chesterfield, is a way for small businesses to reach local customers, to keep local money circulating locally, and to preserve and create local jobs. The deadline for listings in the new edition is October 10. Find out more HERE.

Deadline to enter to win: September 29th.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: The Paradise City Arts Festival is rated #3 among arts and crafts fairs nationwide. On Columbus Day Weekend, over 50 artists have donated sculpture, art glass, ceramics, jewelry and pottery to an auction benefiting The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts– October 7-11th at the Three County Fairground in Northampton. The Food Bank is looking for help running the auction table, assistance for set-up and greeters at the front entrance where a food drive is happening. Admission is free for volunteers. Volunteer orientations at The Food Bank on Monday, October 4th from 1-2:30pm & 5:30-7pm. Come help out and enjoy the show. Interested in participating? Contact Laurie Thompson at katieshane@verizon.net or (413) 786-5963

Deadline to enter to win: September 27th.

LIBRARY AND PARENT CENTER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Littleville Elementary School is looking for help staffing their school library. Volunteers are needed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the school day (hours vary). Click herefor a sign-up form to return to the school office, and additional information on volunteering at the library. The Littleville Parent Center is also looking for volunteers who can donate time to help teachers. Click here for more information and a sign-up sheet to return to the school office.

COAT COLLECTION: The Girls Scouts in Hadley, MA are collecting gently-used coats to donate to local shelters this winter. Coats can be dropped off at the Hadley Park & Rec and the Hadley Elementary School through October 8th. More info call Kate at 531-5415

SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING: Reach thousands of families in Western MA while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. Let us help get the word out about your event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business or announcement. Email hilltownfamilies@gmail.com for more information. — Help us help you!

HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW

Tune in every Saturday from 9-10am. Encore episodes are aired every Sunday from 7-8am.

This week on the HFVS, music by Sonya Kitchell, Rusty Bell, Dan Zanes, Frances England, Rani Arbos & Daisy Mayhem, and many others.

Families have several ways to tune in to the Hilltown Family Variety Show:

Streaming Audio: Surf on over to ValleyFreeRadio.org on Saturday & Sunday mornings and listen to us live via streaming audio.

On Your FM Dial: Tune in to WXOJ 103.3FM if you live near Northampton, MA.

PODCAST: Listen to the most recent episodes of the Hilltown Family Variety Show anytime you wish! Click here to see our current select of episodes, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast too!

6-10am – FAMILY RADIO: Valley Free Radio (WXOJ-LP 103.3FM Northampton, MA) offers 4-hours of commercial-free family programing every Saturday, including the Hilltown Family Variety Show and Spare the Rock. Tune in on your FM dial, or listen live via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org.

9:30am-4:30pm – FOOD HISTORY: What’s cooking? Open hearth cooking at the Historic Deerfield. Open hearth cooks will prepare select dishes that are on display as part of the exhibition Dinner is Served!: Dining and the Decorative Arts. Come see “what’s cooking” and learn how these dishes were prepared in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. 775-7127 www.historic-deerfield.orgDeerfield, MA (MUSEUM ADMISSION)

10am – YOGA: Bring the family in for a free yoga classes for National Yoga Month at Inn Nautre B&B and Yoga Studio (261 South St.). One hour introductory class for all ages and activity levels. Also on Sunday at 6pm. 296-9201 Chesterfield, MA (FREE)

10am – GEOLOGY: Exploring Little Tom: Dikes, Sills, and Lava Flows. Join geologists Richard Little and Steve Winters in exploring this little-known geologic wonder of the Mt. Tom Range. The hike is challenging at times due to steep and rough off-trail terrain. Explore dramatic exposures of lava, volcanic ash, and possibly the igneous sills and dikes that fed the volcanism that built the Holyoke Range over 200 million years ago. After hiking on Little Tom, the group will proceed to Dinosaur Footprints for further geo- and paleontological study. [Rain date: 9/26] Holyoke, MA (>$)

10am-1pm – NATURE STUDIES: Frogs and Turtles of Western Massachusetts at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. Join naturalist Chris Lyons for a look at amphibians and rep- tiles and some of their distinguishing characteristics . Review the specific species in western Massachusetts and take a peek at a host of photographic and artistic images of frogs and turtles . End with a short walk around the pools at Arcadia to view their habitat and look for late-season examples of these fabulous animals. 584-3009 Easthampton, MA (>$)

10am-4pm – ALPACA DAY: Grass Hill Alpacas (79 Adams Rd.) is once again participating in the National Alpaca Farm Days. There will be alpaca merchandise, activities for the children, tours of the farm, visits with the animals and information regarding farming and specifically, raising alpacas. All are welcome. Haydenville, MA (FREE)

12Noon-4:30pm – FOOD HISTORY: Honey Harvest at Historic Deerfield. Honey was an important ingredient used to sweeten foods and beverages in colonial America, and to brew a traditional drink called mead. Join museum educators in this fun family program to learn about bees and honey. Taste different kinds of honey, and make a beeswax candle to take home. 775-7214 www.historic-deerfied.orgDeerfield, MA (MUSEUM ADMISSION)

♦ 1pm – ASTRONOMY: Amherst Solar will be set up with their telescopes on the Amherst Town Common all summer. Stop by with the kids and see Sunspots, Prominences, Limb Darkening and more. 256-6234 amastro.org Amherst, MA (FREE)

2-4pm – HISTORIC ADVENTURES: Join Historic Deerfield and the Deerfield Inn for a fun and educational opportunity to learn more about tea drinking in colonial Deerfield. Enjoy a delicious and beautiful array of freshly baked scones with clotted cream, finger sandwiches, cakes, sherry, cookies and more with a cup of tea! Then join Amanda Rivera Lopez, Director of Museum Education & Interpretation at Historic Deerfield, to learn about the many ways people have enjoyed tea over time. Pre-registration required: 774-5587 www.historic-deerfield.org Deerfield, MA ($$)

5-8pm – FUNDRAISER: It Takes A Village fundraiser, Soup, takes place at the Cummington Community House. 634-5431 www.itavillage.info Cummington, MA (FUNDAISER)

7pm – FILM FEST: Ashfield Film Festival Gala Preview at the Ashfield Town Hall. Whether you’re a budding filmmaker or just your every day ‘ol movie lover, the Ashfield FilmFest is for you! It’s a night of film, friends and fun. www.ashfieldfilmfest.orgAshfield, MA

♦ 9pm – ASTRONOMY: View the Moon, Planets, Satellites, Multiple Stars, Star Clusters, Galaxies, Nebulas and more through the 6 ton, 25 foot long, 18 inch F/17, World Class Clark Refractor at the Wilder Observatory at the Amherst College. Set up a telescope on the lawn, view through public use telescopes. www.amherstastronomy.org Amherst, MA (FREE)

Sunday – 9/26

7-8am – FAMILY RADIO: Valley Free Radio (WXOJ-LP 103.3FM Northampton, MA) airs encores the Hilltown Family Variety Show every Sunday morning. Tune in on your FM dial, or listen live via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org.

♦ 8am – WOMEN’S TRAIL RUN: Women of all levels are welcomed to a casual weekly trail run at the Chesterfield Gorge. All distances/All levels welcome. Organized by Leslie Charles and Tanya Rapinchuk. There is a late-risers run/walk at 9am too. West Chesterfield, MA

All Day – COMMUNITY CELEBRATION: Lee Founders Weekend with a pancake breakfast (7:30-11:30am), kids activities, music and more. 243-1705 www.leefoundersweekend.comLee, MA

10am-4pm – ALPACA DAY: Grass Hill Alpacas (79 Adams Rd.) is once again participating in the National Alpaca Farm Days. There will be alpaca merchandise, activities for the children, tours of the farm, visits with the animals and information regarding farming and specifically, raising alpacas. All are welcome. Haydenville, MA (FREE)

12Noon-4:30pm – FOOD HISTORY: Honey Harvest at Historic Deerfield. Honey was an important ingredient used to sweeten foods and beverages in colonial America, and to brew a traditional drink called mead. Join museum educators in this fun family program to learn about bees and honey. Taste different kinds of honey, and make a beeswax candle to take home. 775-7214 www.historic-deerfied.orgDeerfield, MA (MUSEUM ADMISSION)

1-3pm – HISTORIC ADVENTURES: In Bryant’s Own Words: Guided Tour Inside & Out. At the Bryant Homestead (207 Bryant Rd.), enjoy a special tour of the homestead as seen by William Cullen Bryant. Hear about his childhood memories and his woodland ramblings and how they shaped his poetic vision. 532-1631 Cummington, MA (>$)

♦ 1-5pm – HISTORIC ADVENTURES: Tour the William Cullen Bryant Homestead. Explore the ancestral home of the great 19th-century poet, newspaperman, and essayist, and wander the grounds above the Westfield River. Try the “I Spy” family activity using a hands-on spy pack to discover the Homestead’s secrets. 634-2244 Cummington, MA (>$)

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Monday – 9/27

6pm in Northampton: Northampton Community Music Center (139 South St.) will be offering a free demo class of its Celtic Jam program. Celtic Jam is open to all melodic instruments and not limited to fiddle players. The program is open to students of all ages, however it is important that students have a basic proficiency on their instrument. The ability to read music is not required, as the class is taught entirely by ear. 585-0001 http://www.ncmc.net (FREE)

♦ 6:30pm in Montague: Evening Sing-Along at the Montague Center Library. Children of all ages and their families are invited to join Children’s Librarian Linda Hickman for a fun informal live music. Linda plays a variety of children’s music on the guitar and banjo, and there are bells and shakers for the children to play. For more information, call the Carnegie Library- 863-3214.

6-7:30pm in Florence:Strong Voices, Safe Bodies: An evening for parents with Lynne Marie Wanamaker and Amy Pybus. In an increasingly violent and complex world, it is never too early to set our children on a path of life-long safety. Join self protection expert Lynne Marie Wanamaker and early childhood educator Amy Pybus for an eye-opening evening exploring the safety skills your kids need and how you can teach, model and rehearse them in daily family life at the Lilly Library Community Room. Wise, accessible and irreverrent, these two moms will have you rethinking what personal safety and peace can mean to kids and grown-ups alike. http://www.compassionateconditioning.com (FREE)

6-8pm in Northampton: Auditions for the Valley Teen Theater Project. Following auditions, rehearsals will be held on Monday evenings, October 11-December 20, 6-8pm. A final performance is scheduled for Friday, January 7, 2011 at 7:30 pm. ($$$)

6:30-7:15pm in West Springfield: Evening Family Storytime with stories, snack, music and craft for families with kids ages 3-up at the West Springfield Library (200 Park St.) 736-4561 (FREE)

♦ 10-11am in Greenfield: Pre-School Storyhour at the Greenfield Public Library (402 Main Street). Mrs. Sally Ahearn leads this story time for children ages 5 and under. 772-1544 http://www.greenfieldpubliclibrary.org (FREE)

♦ 10:15-12:15am in Northampton: MotherWoman Postpartum Support Group at the Community Action Building (56 Vernon St.). Confidential drop-in group for mothers of infants and babies up to one year old who are experiencing a challenging postpartum time. Expectant mothers welcome. Free childcare up to four years old. 253-8990 wwwmotherwoman.org (FREE)

♦ 10:30am in Springfield: Preschool Storytime at the Springfield Central Library. Stories, songs, and a craft. Perfect for ages 3-5 years, with siblings welcome. Pre-registration required if you’ll be bringing more than 4 children . 263-6828, x201. http://www.springfieldlibrary.org(FREE)

♦ 11:00am in Hatfield: Preschool story hour lead by Carolyn Mazel at the Hatfield Library (39 Main St.). Geared to ages 3-5, each story hour includes books, songs, finger plays, a play along with musical instruments, and a simple craft. 247-9097 (FREE)

♦ 11am in Lenox: Toddler Story Time at the Lenox Library (18 Main Street). Story Time is for children age 18 months to 3 years. Children & their caregivers sing songs, learn finger plays & listen to a story. Following the structured program, participants are invited to stay so that the children can play together & their caregivers can visit. (FREE)

♦ 12:30pm in Pittsfield: Chow Time in the aquarium at 12:30pm at the Berkshire Museum. 443-7171 http://www.berkshiremuseum.org (FREE w/museum admission)

♦ 3:30-4:45pm in Miller Falls: Millers Falls Library Club (23 Bridge St.). An afterschool program with drop-in sessions for children of all ages. Activities include arts and crafts, snacks and homework help. 659-3801 http://www.montaguepubliclibraries.org (FREE)

♦ 9:30am-12Noon in Buckland: Homeschool Half Days at Red Gate Farm. Every Wednesday morning participants will be doing different farm activities. Participants can sign up for as few or as many mornings as desired. Mornings together will revolve around a central theme with time allowed for unstructured play. Ages 6 – 12. Please call the Farm Office to register. 625-9503 http://www.redgatefarm.org(>$)

♦9:30-11:30am in Lenox: Playgroup at Lenox Community Center. 644-0104 (FREE)

♦ 10am in New Marlborough: Library Story hour. 644-0104 (FREE)

♦ 10am in Greenfield: Sunshine Story Time, an all-ages story hour – During the school year, this story time will take place, weather permitting, on the library’s back lawn. 772-1544 http://www.greenfieldpubliclibrary.org (FREE)

Thursday – 9/30

9:30am & 11am in Westfield: Fantastic Fours & Fives, a storytime specifically designed for 4 and 5 year olds. This program includes stories, song, fingerplays and a craft! Registration is required. 562-6158 ext. 5. http://www.westath.org (FREE)

1pm in Springfield:The Read Aloud Handbook, presented by Jim Trelease at the Springfield City Library, Central Branch, Community Room (State St.). In this informative and entertaining lecture, Jim will discuss the importance and educational value of reading aloud to children. Limited seating. Please register online at http://www.SpringfieldParentAcademy.com or call 787-7485

4pm in Northampton: The Northampton Parents Center is having their Annual Welcome Back Picnic until dusk at Look Park. Everyone is welcome – new and current families as well as alumni! Meet at the picnic tables near the little playground (look for the NPC sandwich board!) The Picnic is potluck, so please bring a dish to share. Look Park charges a small fee to enter the park. If the weather is questionable, call the Parents Center at 582-2636 for details. Rain date is Thursday, October 7th. Rescheduled for 10/7 due to rain.

6:30-8pm in Lenox: Reading with the Girls for girls in grades 5&6 and a female adult at the Lenox Library. Discussing the book, The Secret of Zoom by Lynne Jonell.637-0197

6:30-8:30pm in Springfield:“Can You Hear Me?” Hearing Loss in Children – The Facts and Why They Are Important! at the Mercy Medical Center – Weldon Hearing Center (271 Carew St.) http://www.SpringfieldParentAcademy.com 413-787-7485 (FREE)

♦ 9am in Great Barrington: Kids’ Kitchen with Melanie Seserman at the CHP Family Services Building (442 Stockbridge Rd.). A cooking class for kids 2.5-5yo to learn about healthy food choices. http://www.communityhealthprograms.org 644-0104 (FREE)

♦ 10:30am in Springfield: Preschool Storytime at the Springfield Central Library. Stories, songs, and a craft. Perfect for ages 3-5 years, with siblings welcome. Pre-registration required if you’ll be bringing more than 4 children . 263-6828, x201. http://www.springfieldlibrary.org(FREE)

6-9:30pm in Greenfield: Skeleton Crew Theater (SCT) at Camp Kee-Wanee. SCT is a theatrical attraction with a Halloween twist. Think of it as a treasure/scavenger hunt you’ll solve in one evening. Shows are 45/65 minutes long. Dress for the outdoors and bring a flashlight. Not scary or gory, just spooky in a tasteful way. Bad weather cancels. http://www.skeletoncrewtheater.com($)

♦ 10am & 11am in Pittsfield: Aquarium Adventures. Each week children ages 2-4 meet a different animal from Berkshire Museum’s aquarium and watch as their new friend enjoys a meal. Story time is included. Free with Museum admission.

♦ 11am in Sunderland: Story/craft time for kids ages 3-5yo and their families at the Sunderland Pulic Library (20 School St.). Each storytime is approximately 45 minutes in length for theme-related stories, songs, finger plays and crafts! 665-2642 sunderlandpubliclibrary.org (FREE)

♦ 11am in Greenfield: Mother Goose on the Loose makes early learning lots of hands-on fun with songs, rhymes, and activities geared for the 3 and under audience. http://www.greenfieldpubliclibrary.org (FREE)

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Welcome to Hilltown Families, an online grassroots communication network for families living throughout the four counties of western Massachusetts. Hilltown Families believes in creating resilient and sustainable communities by developing and strengthening a sense of place in our children and citizens through community based education and engagement. We work to accomplish this by highlighting the embedded learning that is found everywhere in our communities, making the information accessible to families, and giving parents/educators access to opportunities that supports their children’s interests and education while encouraging community engagement.

Hilltown Families was founded in 2005 by Sienna Wildfield and is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

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